GOPIO-CT celebrates Diwali supporting local charity; Stamford Mayor proclaims Diwali Day

Presenting Stamford City Mayor’s proclamation of Diwali Day at the celebration. From l. to r.: Babita Gupta, Sonali Gannu, Jayashri Chintalapudi, Stamford Mayor’s Multicultural Council (MMC) Vice President Malinda Polite, GOPIO-CT President Mahesh Jhangiani, Stamford-HindiUSA Coordinator Manish Maheshwari, GOPIO Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham, Kavita Rathi, Rekha Heda and MMC Board member Shobhna Bhatnagar. ALL PHOTOS: GOPIO-CT

The Connecticut Chapter the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO-CT) and Hindi USA Stamford Chapter jointly celebrated Diwali on October 17^th at Westover Magnet School in Stamford, CT.

Dancers at Diwali Celebration by GOPIO-CT and Stamford Hindi-USA

A lamplighting ceremony was followed by more than fifteen group dance items, followed by a dinner. The program was put together by GOPIO-CT Board Member Manish Maheshwari, who also serves as Coordinator of Stamford-Hindi USA, a press release from the organization said.

GOPIO-CT Presenting a Check of $25,000 to Children’s Learning Center, from l. to r. Prasad Chintalapudi, Viresh Sharma, Sonali Gannu, CLC’s Director of Partnerships Jennifer Hallissey, CLC CEO Monica Maccera Filppu, GOPIO-CT Treasurer Srinivas Akarapu, GOPIO-CT President Mahesh Jhangiani, GOPIO Chairman Dr. Thoams Abraham and Stamford-Hindi USA Coordinator Manish Maheshwari.

As a Diwali giving, GOPIO-CT Chapter presented a check of $25,000, contributed by its members, to 100-year-old Children’s Learning Center (CLC) in Fairfield County in Connecticut. The Chapter has been supporting many local charities in Connecticut. This year GOPIO-CT supported Future 5, an organization which provides coaching of high school students from low-income and immigrant families as well as Society for Human and Environment Development (SHED) which runs schools in Mumbai slums and in the rural areas of Maharashtra.

Stamford City Mayor Caroline Simmons issued a proclamation to honor Diwali. It was presented by Stamford Mayors’ Multicultural Council Vice President Malinda Polite along with Board Member Shobhna Bhatnagar. In her proclamation, Mayor Simmons noted the presence of 66,000 people of Indian origin living in Connecticut and 4.8 million in the USA enriching communities across the nation with deep tradition, professional excellence and cultural vitality. The proclamation also recognized Diwali, India’s largest religion Hinduism with one billion followers and India in its 77^th year of independence, the press release said.